Three-Point %
The percentage of three-point attempts that a player or team converts — the most watched shooting stat in modern basketball analytics.
The three-point shot is the most valuable field goal attempt in basketball on a per-shot basis when hit at a reasonable rate. A team making 35% of its threes scores 1.05 points per attempt — competitive with a good mid-range game. Understanding three-point percentage in context with three-point attempt rate reveals whether a team is using the shot intelligently or recklessly.
Benchmarks
- League average: ~35–36%
- Good: above 37%
- Elite: above 39%
In 2025–26, Olimpia Milano led with 39.2% despite finishing 17–21 — elite shooting disconnected from wins. Žalgiris converted 38.8% en route to a 24–18 record. Real Madrid hit 37.6% and Barcelona 37.3%, both comfortably above league average. Most EuroLeague teams fall between 33–37%.
Olimpia Milano's 39.2% three-point percentage in 2025–26 presents a fascinating paradox — the league's best shooting accuracy paired with a losing record (17–21). Their offensive efficiency was elite (OFF RTG 118.9, fourth-best in the league), but their defense bled points at an alarming rate (DEF RTG 120.5). Milano proves that even the purest shooting can't compensate for porous defense. The shots fell; the wins didn't.
Tensions
Three-point shooting fluctuates dramatically game to game, even for elite shooters. A team shooting 40% over a season may shoot 25% in a given week. This volatility makes 3P% unreliable as a game-level diagnostic tool. Over a full season, it stabilises and becomes meaningful. Over five games, treat it with significant caution.
A team shooting 40% on 300 attempts is very different from one shooting 40% on 900 attempts. The first team uses the three as a selective weapon; the second has made it central to their offense. Same percentage, completely different basketball philosophies. Always pair 3P% with 3PAR (three-point attempt rate).
Formula
3P% = Three-Point Field Goals Made / Three-Point Field Goals Attempted
3P%: Three-Point Percentage / 3PM: Three-Pointers Made / 3PA: Three-Point Attempts
